Written Answers Wednesday 7 November 2007

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 there have been in each year since 1999.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for an Offence Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 19911, 1999-2000 - 2005-06.

  

 
Number of Persons


1999-2000
47


2000-01
36


2001-02
26


2002-03
37


2003-04
48


2004-05
52


2005-06
48



  Note: 1. Where main offence.

Defence

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those invited to attend the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference, also indicating the organisations that they represent.

Bruce Crawford: The list of those invited to attend the conference is as follows:

  

Name
Organisation


James Alexander
NUS Scotland


Sir Michael Atiyah
Royal Society of Edinburgh


Jackie Baillie MSP
Scottish Parliament


Chris Boles 
Jesuit Community


Mungo Bovey
QC


Robert Brown MSP
Scottish Parliament


Des Browne MP
Secretary of State for Defence and Scotland


Paul Burstow MP
UK Parliament


Adam Conway
Nuke Watch


Jackson Cullinane
Transport & General Workers Union


Roseanna Cunningham MSP
Scottish Parliament


Rob Edwards
Environmental Editor, Sunday Herald


Janet Fenton
Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre


John Frances
UNESCO Scotland


Rev Kathy Galloway
Iona Community


Robin Harper MSP
Scottish Parliament


Patrick Harvie MSP
Scottish Parliament


Paul Holleran
National Union of Journalists


Geoff Hoon MP
UK Parliament


Rebecca Johnston
Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy


Most Rev Dr Idris Jones
Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, Scottish Episcopal Church


Isobel Lindsay
Scotland’s for Peace


John Loughton
Scottish Youth Parliament


The Very Rev Alan Macdonald
Church of Scotland


Margo MacDonald MSP
Scottish Parliament


David Mackenzie
Trident Ploughshares


Alan Mackinnon
Scottish CND


Duncan Maclaren
Friends of the Earth


Bashir Mann
Glasgow Central Mosque & Muslim Council of Britain


Mary Mansell
Scottish Quakers & Chair of Northern Friends Peace Board


John Mayer
Advocate


Phil McGarry
Rail Maritime and Transport Union


Patrick McLaughlin MP
UK Parliament


Euan McLeod
Nuclear Free Local Authority (Scotland) & Glasgow City Council


David McLetchie MSP
Scottish Parliament


Francis Mildmay
United Nations Association Scotland


Lord Ronald King Murray
World Court Project UK


Morag Mylne
Church of Scotland


Cllr Rick Nickerson
Mayors for Peace, Shetland Islands Council


His Eminence Cardinal O’Brien
Archbishop of Saint Andrews & Edinburgh


Lesley Riddoch
Broadcaster & Journalist


Angus Robertson MP
UK Parliament


Pete Roche
Greenpeace UK (Scotland)


Osama Saed
UK Islamic Mission, Glasgow Islamic Centre


Graham Smith
Scottish Trades Union Congress


Matt Smith
UNISON


Cllr Conor Snowden
Mayors for Peace, Edinburgh City Council


Jane Tallents
Faslane 365


Professor William Walker
School of International Relations, St Andrew’s University


Councillor Dick Walsh
Argyll & Bute Council


Rev Ainslie Walton
Clergy Action Group, Church of Scotland


Councillor Pat Waters
COSLA President

Defence

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with the (a) Scotland Office and (b) Ministry of Defence in advance of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference.

Bruce Crawford: No discussions were held with the Scotland Office. There were discussions at official level with the Ministry of Defence about representation and the submission of papers for the meeting.

Defence

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all costs, including staff time, arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference.

Bruce Crawford: The total cost arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference was £4,843.37. This covers venue hire, catering, branding and technical support.

  Calculating the costs associated with officials making arrangements for the conference is not possible, as relevant staff would have undertaken such work alongside a range of other duties and the time spent on any given day on such work would have varied considerably.

Defence

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the recipients of the First Minister’s letter to all states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Bruce Crawford: The information requested is as follows:

  London-Based Embassies

  

His Excellency Mr Ahmad Wali Masoud


His Excellency Mr Kastriot Robo


His Excellency Mohamed Salah Dembri


Her Excellency Mrs Ana Maria Teles Carreira


His Excellency Dr Carl Roberts


His Excellency Mr Federico Mirre


His Excellency Dr Vahe Gabriel Yan


His Excellency The Hon Richard Alston


Her Excellency Mrs Gabriele Matzner-Holzer


His Excellency Mr Rafael Ibrahimov


His Excellency Mr Basil G O’Brien CMG


Mrs Maria Rosa Picart de Francis


Mr Yusuf M Jameel


His Excellency Mr Sabihuddin Ahmed


His Excellency Mr L Edwin Pollard


His Excellency Mr Aleksandr Mikhnevich


His Excellency Jean-Michel Veranneman De Watervlli


His Excellency Mr Lawrence Sylvester


High Excellency Mr Edgar-Yves Monnou


Her Excellency Mrs Beatriz Souviron


Her Excellency Dr Tanja Milasinovic


His Exzcellency Mr Roy Blackbeard


His Excellency Mr Jose Mauricio Bustani


His Excellency Pengiran Dato Maidin Hashim


His Excellency Dr Lachezar Matev


His Excellency Mr Kadre Desire Ouedraogo


His Excellency Mr Nay Win


His Excellency Mr Laurent Kavakure


His Excellency Mr Hor Nambora


His Excellency Mr Samuel Libock MBEI


His Excellency Mr James R Wright


Mrs Clara Manuela da Luz Delgado


Mr Ahmat Abderaman Hagger


His Excellency Mr Rafael Moreno


His Excellency Mr Zha Peixin


His Excellency Mr Alfonso Lopex-Caballero


His Excellency Monsieur Henri Marie Joseph Lopes


Her Excellency Mrs Eugenie Tshiela Compton


Her Excellency Mrs Pilar Saborio De Rocafort


His Excellency Mr Djessan Philippe Djangone-BI


His Excellency Mr Josip Paro


His Excellency Mr Rene Juan Mujica Cantelar


His Excellency George Iacovou


His Excellency Mr Jan Winkler


His Excellency Mr Birger Riis-Jorgensen


Mr Mourad Houssein Mouti


Ms Agnes Adonis


His Excellency Mr Anibal De Castro


His Excellency Dr Teodoro Maldonado Riera


His Excellency Mr Gehad Madi


His Excellency Mr Vladimiro P Villalta


His Excellency Mr Agustin Nze Nfumu


His Excellency Mr Negassi Sengal


His Excellency Dr Margus Laidre


His Excellency Mr Berhanu Kebede


His Excellency Mr Emitai Lausiki Boladuadua


His Excellency Mr Jaakko Laajava


His Excellency Mr Gerard Errera


His Excellency Mr Alain Menshah Zouguelet


His Excellency Mr Tamsir Jallow


His Excellency Mr Gela Charkviani


His Excellency Mr Wolfgang Ischinger


His Excellency Mr Annan Arkyin Cato


His Excellency Mr Vassilis Achilleas Pispinis


His Excellency Mr Joseph S Charter


His Excellency Mr Edmundo Urrutia


His Excellency Mr Lansana Keita


Mr Fali Embalo


His Excellency Mr Laleshwar K N Singh


His Excellency Archibhop Faustino Sainz Munoz


Mr Ivan Romero Nasser


Her Excellency Mrs Barbara Czako


His Excellency Mr Sverrir Haukur Gunnlaugsson


Mr Ivan Romero Nasser


Her Excellency Mrs Barbara Czako


His Excellency Dr R M Marty M Natalegawa


His Excellency Mr Rasoul Movahedian Attar


His Excellency Dr Salah Al-Shaikhly


His Excellency Mr Daithi O’Ceallaigh


His Excellency Mr Giancarlo Aragona


Mrs Sharon Saunders


His Excellency Mr Yoshiji Nogami


Her Excellency Dr Alia Bouran


His Excellency Mr Erlan A Idrissov


His Excellency Mr Joseph Muchemi


High Commissioner


His Excellency Dr Yoon-Je Cho


His Excellency Mr Khaled Al-Duwaisangcvo


His Excellency Mr Kuban Mambetaliev


His Excellency Mr Soutsakhone Pathammavong


His Excellency Mr Indulis Berzins


Mr Milad Nammour


HRH Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso


Mr Dorsey Handsford


Mr Omar R Jelban


H E Mr Vygaudas Usackas


His Excellency Monsieur Jean-Louis Wolzfeld


Mr Muhamet Halili


Dr Iary Berthine Ravaoarimanana


His Excellency Dr Francis Moto


His Excellency Mr Abd Aziz Mohammed


His Excellency Mr Hassan Sobir


His Excellency Mr Ibrahim Bocar BA


His Excellency Dr Michael Refalo


His Excellency Mr Mealainine Ould Moctar Neche


His Excellency Mr Abhimanu Kundasamy


His Excellency Mr Juan Jose Bremer de Martino


Her Excellency Mrs Mariana Durlesteanu


Mrs Evelyne Genta


His Excellency Mr Mohammed Belmahi


His Excellency Mr Antonio Gumende


His Excellency Mr George Mbanga Liswaniso


Mr Dipendra P Bista


His Excellency Mr Pieter Willem Waldeck


His Excellency Rt Hon Mr Jonathan Hunt


His Excellency Mr Piero P Coen


His Excellency Mr Adamou Seydou


His Excellency Dr Christopher Olusola Kolade Con


His Excellency Mr Bjarne Lindstrom


His Excellency Mr Hussain Ali Abdullatif


Her Excellency Miss Liliana Fernandez P


Her Excellency Ms Jean Kekedo OBE


Ms Maria Cristina Acosta Alvarez


Mr Gustavo Meza-Cuadra


His Excellency Mr Edgardo B Espiritu


Mr Cezary Krol


His Excellency Mr Antonia Santana-Carlos


His Excellency Mr Khalid Rashid Al-Hamoudi Al-Mans


Mrs Raduta Matache


His Excellency Mr Yury V Fedotov


His Excellency Mr Claver Gatete


His Excellency Mr James Ernest Williams


His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Hercules Cotter MBE


His Excellency Mr Cenio E Lewis


His Excellency ME Tuala Falani Chan Tung


Her Excellency Contessa Marina Meneghetti de Camil


Mr Armindo de Brito


HRH Prince Mohamed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz


His Excellency General Mamadou Niang


Mr Djoko Tripkovic


Ms Renette Nicette


His Excellency Mr Melvin Humpah Chalobah


His Excellency Mr Michael Eng Cheng Teo


Mr Radovan Javorcik


His Excellency Mr Iztok Mirosic


Her Excellency Ms L Mabuza


His Excellency Mr Carlos Miranda, Count of Casa Miranda


Her Excellency Mrs Kshenuka Senewiratne


Mr Hassan Abdelazizag Farag


Ms Susan M Derby


Her Excellency Mrs Mary M Kanya


His Excellency Mr Staffan Carlsson


His Excellency Mr Alexis Lautenberg


His Excellency Dr Sami Khiyami


Her Excellency Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar


Mr Bansarn Bunnag


His Excellency Mr Tchao Sotou Bere


His Excellency Dr Sione Ngongo Kioa


Her Excellency Mrs Glenda P Morean Phillip


His Excellency Mr Mohamed Ghariani


His Excellency Mr Akin Alptuna


His Excellency Mr Yazmurad N Seryaev


Her Excellency Mrs Joan Rwabyomere


His Excellency Dr Ihor Y Kharchenko


His Excellency Mr Easa Saleh Al Gurg CBE


His Excellency Mr Robert Tuttle


His Excellency Mr Ricardo Varela


His Excellency Mr Tukhtapulat Riskiev


His Excellency Mr Alfredo Toro-Hardy


His Excellency Mr Trinh Duc Du


HE Mr Mohamed Taha Mustafa


His Excellency Mr Anderson K Chibwa


His Excellency Mr Gabriel Mharadze Machinga



  Scotland-based Consulates

  

Mr William Roxburgh


John Clifford


Dr Wali Tasar Uddin


Mr Yves Albert Marie Leonard Lemarchand


Alastair Wallis


Nikolei Zhelev


Mr John Rafferty


Mr Ian Cochrane


Guifang Guo


Mrs Gloria Duguid


Dr Paul Millar


Norman MacFarlane Irons


Mr Iain M Lawson


Michael James Walker


Nicole Taillefer


Peter Geoffrey Seazell


Ingo Heinrich Radcke


Mrs Melpomeni Papaioannou-Plevris


Thomas Henry Drysdale


Cameron Roy Marchand Buchanan


Ms Cliona Leslie


Andrea Macchioni


Shuhei Takahashi


William Peter Cameron MacNair


William John Toner


Timothy Noble


Colin Cameron


Nicholas Pace


Robin Andrew Stormonth-Darling


Mr John Kenneth Scott Moncrieff


Robyn Muir Murray


Mr Michael David Hughes


Eric Milligan


Oystein Hovdkinn


Ian Hutchison Corbett


Mr Aleksander Dietkow


Vladimir Malygin


Alan Goodall


Duncan Alexanda Spiers


Ana Wersun


Federico Palomera


Mr Torvald Coliander


Mr Bruno Widrig


Alexander Donald Stewart


Henry Murray


Ian Wittet


Mr Bohdan Yaremenko


Lia A Vickers

Fertility Treatment

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fertility treatment will be considered for inclusion in the waiting times targets, given the age bar on such treatment for women.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4584 on 18 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The Scottish Government is working with NHS boards and other stakeholders to gather data on IVF waiting times, which will assist in future policy determination.

Housing

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5226 by Stewart Maxwell on 29 October 2007, how many applications for a rural home ownership grant were received in each local authority area in each of the three years listed.

Nicola Sturgeon: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The total number of applications for rural home ownership grants over the three year period was 329. This is broken down by local authority area and financial year in the following table.

  RHOG Applications

  

Unitary Authority
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeenshire
2
1
1


Argyll and Bute
10
9
15


Highland
45
33
33


North Ayrshire
1
0
0


Moray
0
0
0


Orkney
39
36
43


Perth and Kinross
25
3
1


Shetland
4
4
3


The Scottish Borders
6
5
2


Western Islands
3
2
3


Scotland Total
135
93
101

Inter-Governmental Relations

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive has requested a review of the concordat between HM Treasury and the Executive, and if so, on what date.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not requested such a review. It has however put forward particular issues in terms of the Review of the Statement of Funding Policy.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5222 by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 October 2007, why podiatrists in NHS Grampian are paid at a lower rate that podiatrists in NHS Highland.

Nicola Sturgeon: All parties to the Agenda for Change agreement have taken the view that equity and consistency of outcome are central to the effective introduction of the new pay system. As a result, the job evaluation system which assesses pay relativities has been designed to be as rigorous and robust as possible.

  I can confirm that both NHS Grampian and NHS Highland have followed the job evaluation processes which were agreed in partnership between NHS Scotland employers and trades unions. The data on evaluation outcomes for podiatry staff in both health boards demonstrates a high level of consistency, with the majority being assessed at band 6. Therefore the evidence available does not suggest that podiatry staff in NHS Grampian are paid at a lower rate than staff in NHS Highland.In circumstances where staff feel that they have been incorrectly assessed, they can request a review of the job evaluation outcome, which would be conducted in partnership between the employer and trades unions.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to recruit and train additional neonatal nurses, as recommended by the British Association for Perinatal Medicine.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government in conjunction with NHS Education Scotland and higher education institutions has commissioned work which will promote capacity building within neonatal services in Scotland including the Neonatal Nurses Education Programme to ensure members of staff have the skills and competencies they require.

  In recognition of the absence of a 2nd Tier level to the Neonatal Nurses Education Programme in Scotland a fully funded cohort of 20 students will commence in November. This is the start of a phased approach and more students will start the course in the near future.A nursing workload tool has been developed, with neonatal nurses, piloted and validated that will complement and incorporate the British Association for Perinatal Medicine recommendations. The new tool will identify the number of staff needed based on actual workload.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses have worked in specialist neonatal units in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of nurses working in specialist neonatal units is not available centrally.

  Information on staff employed in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. Section E gives details of Nursing and Midwifery staff, in particular tables E1 – E6.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing vacancies there have been at specialist neonatal units in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of nursing vacancies at specialist neonatal units is not available centrally.

  Information on nursing vacancies in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce. Section E gives details of nursing and midwifery vacancies, in particular tables E7 – E10.

NHS Staff

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to recruit additional nurses to ensure that the provision of neonatal care is enhanced across Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: Nurse recruitment is a matter for health boards. Neonatal nurses in NHSScotland, in association with the Nursing and Midwifery Workload and Workforce Planning Programme Team have, over the past year, developed, piloted and validated a nursing workload tool. This work will inform any recruitment plans that Neonatal Units may have.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the geographical spread of its public agencies after its review of the structure and number of non-departmental public bodies is concluded.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assess the economic impact of any reduction in the number of non-departmental public body offices in Aberdeen and Grampian.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it will make of how local areas may be affected by the proposed relocation or abolition of non-departmental public bodies.

John Swinney: We are committed to a simpler, more effective public sector in Scotland. This is a positive step to improving Scotland’s competitiveness and overall economic performance. Work is progressing to consider specific proposals to streamline the existing landscape and the precise implications of the changes will be clear once this work is complete. Further details will be announced to Parliament later this year.

  Ministers are currently reviewing their policy on the location of public sector jobs in Scotland and will make a statement later this year. In addition, the on-going Asset Management Review will note any geographic disparity in the spread of public sector organisations. Work to update the register of accommodation occupied by the Scottish Government and its dependent bodies is underway and this register will continue to be used as the basis for future management of government assets. The success of the policy will be kept under review.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its plans as to how and when it will reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be consulted as part of its plans to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies.

John Swinney: We are committed to simpler, more effective public services in Scotland. Work is underway to consider specific proposals to streamline the landscape of public sector organisations. Further details will be announced later this year. We will involve organisations, trade unions and other key stakeholders and this Parliament to ensure decisions are taken through a robust process.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the staff of non-departmental public bodies are being consulted on the effect that its review of such bodies will have on them.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5818 on 7 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The Scottish Government has publicly committed that there will be no compulsory redundancies as a consequence of our approach to simplifying the public service landscape.

Prison Service

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the prison population has been in each month since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows the average daily population for each month since May 2007. For clarity the table also distinguishes between convicted and remand prisoners in custody and those on Home Detention Curfew (HDC).

  

Month 2007
In Custody
HDC
Total


May
7,152
294
7,446


June
7,175
290
7,465


July
7,210
294
7,504


August
7,372
287
7,658


September
7,450
301
7,751


October
7,386
297
7,682

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce a presumption against school closures in towns and cities.

Maureen Watt: We are committed to introducing a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools and to tightening the regulations for closing all schools. We will consult widely on a set of proposals to give effect to those commitments, in a way which will allow ample opportunity for comment.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Schools Fund capital allocation will continue.

Maureen Watt: Discussions with COSLA about future funding arrangements are on-going.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Schools Fund capital allocation will be increased.

Maureen Watt: It is not appropriate to speculate on what may be included in future announcements.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the proposed school closures since May 2007 that have come before ministers, showing the (a) recommendation by HM Inspectorate of Education and (b) decision subsequently taken on each one.

Maureen Watt: Ministers have decided on two such cases, those of the proposed closures of Glentrool and Lochearnhead Primary Schools. The HM inspectorate of Education advice in both cases is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/Buildings/closurecases .

  Ministerial decisions were not to consent to either proposal. Letters setting out those decisions are also available on the same website.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projected costs of the school estate management plans for each local authority area.

Maureen Watt: School Estate Management Plans are used by authorities to help them to identify needs and to determine their future strategic priorities. The detailed content of each plan, including the way financial information is presented, is a matter for each authority.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lasswade High School is still one of six category D schools in line for urgent funding for a new school.

Maureen Watt: In School Estate Statistics 2007 published on 12 July 2007, Lasswade High School is one of 138 schools in condition category D. This publication is available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/10/03151842/0 .

  The Scottish Government does not allocate funding for specific schools. Plans and priorities for Lasswade High School are matters for Midlothian Council.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many parents have benefited from an increased entitlement to pre-school education from August 2007.

Adam Ingram: All children eligible for free pre-school education are now entitled to 475 hours per year following the increase from August 2007. The Pre-school and Childcare Statistics 2007 ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/26094517/0 ) showed that in January there were 98,810 three, four and five-year-old children in pre-school education. The main beneficiaries of the change will be the 27,520 children who attend partner provider centres in the private, voluntary and independent sectors, but there are also wider benefits to local authorities from putting this level of entitlement on a proper statutory and financial footing. Data is not held on the number of families or parents with children in pre-school education.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3F-125 by Alex Salmond on 6 September 2007 ( Official Report , c. 1501), whether the phrase "so-called hit list" refers to the programme of school closures contained in Children & Families Estates Review: Rationalisation and Development Programme , approved by the City of Edinburgh Council Executive on 23 August 2007.

Maureen Watt: The First Minister was reflecting on a general understanding that the possibility of school closures had been under consideration for some time by the City of Edinburgh Council’s previous administration.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4248 by Fiona Hyslop on 25 September 2007, whether it will give examples of the reports referred to.

Maureen Watt: There were such reports in the Edinburgh Evening News on 14 August 2006, and 31 January, 9 February and 7 March 2007.

Scottish Futures Trust

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing the Scottish Futures Trust; when it is expected to be launched, and when local authorities will be able to apply for funding from the trust.

John Swinney: Our working group is making considerable progress in developing the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) initiative to deliver better, more efficient infrastructure for taxpayers and an announcement will be made when we are ready to explain it in more detail.

  I have already given a progress report on SFT to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee in relation to their inquiry into funding of capital projects, and promised to keep them informed as developments continue.

Water Services

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have private service water pipes where the connection to the main communication water pipe extends well beyond the boundary of the property, broken down by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: Information on mains and associated drinking water pipe networks is held by Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to consider your enquiry and respond to you directly.

Water Services

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility homeowners have in respect of the upkeep of private service water pipes that extend beyond their property should they become damaged and what assistance is available to homeowners to meet the costs of this upkeep.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is responsible for the maintenance of the public drinking water mains network up to the communication pipe which normally, but not always, terminates at the boundary of a property. Homeowners are responsible for the upkeep of the private service pipe which connects to the communication pipe to bring the supply into their homes. There are insurance schemes available which can offer protection against bursts or damage to private service pipes. Scottish Water has an arrangement with Homeserve Ltd to offer such cover to their customers at their own discretion.